Get our latest staff recommendations, award news and digital catalog links right to your inbox.
A Time to Hide
Based on a True Story of Survival During the Holocaust
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven and Diane Dove
Published by The Collective Book Studio
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About The Book
A Time to Hide captures a powerful true story of Holocaust survival, told through personal testimony, historical photographs, and evocative new illustrations.
“Pair this skillfully crafted book with . . . other Anne Frank resources to expand the context of the Holocaust experience.” —Booklist, starred review
"Assembled from inherited memory, it’s a piercing narrative that feels like a preserved family archive." —Publishers Weekly
When Grete and Julius fled Nazi Germany, they never imagined they’d be forced into hiding in a Dutch attic. While in hiding, their daughter Marion was born—a moment of light amid the darkest of times. Years later, Marion Seidemann Fredman shares her family’s courageous story of love, loss, and resilience in this visually rich, nonfiction picture book.
What Makes This Book Essential:
• A Rare Firsthand Story: Told by a child born while in hiding during the Holocaust—now sharing her family’s story with the next generation.
• Visually Immersive: Blends historical photographs, forged documents, keepsakes, and newly commissioned illustrations.
• Accessible for Young Readers: Includes historical context, a glossary, and a translation guide—ideal for classrooms and intergenerational reading.
• Legacy and Memory: Honors the lived experiences of Jewish families during World War II and the quiet heroes who helped them survive.
A Time to Hide is a vital Holocaust story that honors memory, teaches history, and helps ensure the next generation understands and remembers this powerful legacy of survival.
“Pair this skillfully crafted book with . . . other Anne Frank resources to expand the context of the Holocaust experience.” —Booklist, starred review
"Assembled from inherited memory, it’s a piercing narrative that feels like a preserved family archive." —Publishers Weekly
When Grete and Julius fled Nazi Germany, they never imagined they’d be forced into hiding in a Dutch attic. While in hiding, their daughter Marion was born—a moment of light amid the darkest of times. Years later, Marion Seidemann Fredman shares her family’s courageous story of love, loss, and resilience in this visually rich, nonfiction picture book.
What Makes This Book Essential:
• A Rare Firsthand Story: Told by a child born while in hiding during the Holocaust—now sharing her family’s story with the next generation.
• Visually Immersive: Blends historical photographs, forged documents, keepsakes, and newly commissioned illustrations.
• Accessible for Young Readers: Includes historical context, a glossary, and a translation guide—ideal for classrooms and intergenerational reading.
• Legacy and Memory: Honors the lived experiences of Jewish families during World War II and the quiet heroes who helped them survive.
A Time to Hide is a vital Holocaust story that honors memory, teaches history, and helps ensure the next generation understands and remembers this powerful legacy of survival.
Appearances
AUG 10
12:00AM
In Person
Bookstore event with Marion Fredman
Clio's Bookstore
353 Grand Street
Oakland, CA 94610
AUG 15
1:00PM
In Person
Meet and Greet with the author
Copperfields, Petaluma
140 Kentucky Street
Petaluma, CA 94952
SEP 17
12:00AM
In Person
In conversation with the author
Books Inc., Alameda
1344 Park Street
Alameda, CA 94501
About The Author
Marion Seidemann Fredman lives in Berkeley, California surrounded by her family, friends, dogs, chickens, treasures, and memories. She spends much of her time in her garden making whimsical art and hanging out with her offspring. This is her first book.
About The Illustrators
Elisa Kleven writes and illustrates picture books because she’s never outgrown her childhood passion for art and storymaking. Having spent much of her childhood creating magical, miniature worlds, Elisa now creates similar worlds inside of her picture books. She is the acclaimed author and/or illustrator of over thirty children’s books, including Sun Bread, a New York Times Best Illustrated Book, The Paper Princess, and Abuela, by Arthur Dorros. Her books have been included in Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library and the Reading Rainbow series. Elisa's stories have also been performed as plays and ballets by professional theater and dance companies. To learn more about Elisa and her work, please visit her website: www.elisakleven.com
Diane Dove is a California-based artist with a thirty-year career in art education. She holds a BFA and a master’s degree in international education, which she earned while living and teaching in Brazil.
Product Details
- Publisher: The Collective Book Studio (March 24, 2026)
- Length: 96 pages
- ISBN13: 9781685556280
- Grades: 3 - 6
- Ages: 9 - 12
- Lexile ® 720L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
- Fountas & Pinnell™ V These books have been officially leveled by using the F&P Text Level Gradient™ Leveling System
Browse Related Books
Raves and Reviews
"Pair this skillfully crafted book with . . . other Anne Frank resources to expand the context of the Holocaust experience. "
– Booklist, starred review
"A unique and unreservedly recommended addition to family, elementary school, middle school, and community library Holocaust Studies picture book collections."
– Midwest Book Review
"Assembled from inherited memory, it’s a piercing narrative that feels like a preserved family archive."
– Publishers Weekly
"A Time to Hide is a gripping, unique, and beautiful graphic memoir that recounts one family's story of escape and survival during the Holocaust through photos and illustrations. This story does something incredible, which is to shine a light on the terror so many Jewish people endured, but also the sacrifice of others who risked their safety to protect others, and the indomitable spirit of a people to start anew after losing everything. I cried tears of sadness and joy."
– Brooke Warner, Publisher and Author
"Multimedia storytelling immerses us in the miracle of a family's survival - and reminds us all how to be more human."
– Dr. Audrey Barbakoff, librarian and author of Mazel Toes!
"It is an homage to her brave heroic parents and the 'Righteous Gentiles' who protected her family and aided in her birth at great risk to themselves."
– Gloria Kobrin, founder of Kosher by Gloria
"Marion Seidemann Fredman’s book portrays her family’s courage and resilience amidst the terror in simple words and lovely illustrations that make it easy enough for a child to understand. Another generation will learn what happened and continue to say 'never again!'"
– Ronnie V. Fein, recipe developer and author of The Modern Kosher Kitchen
"A Time to Hide captures both the terror and the tenderness of those years in hiding, while highlighting acts of courage and sacrifice. Despite the weighty subject matter, their story is handled with care, making it accessible for younger readers (ages 9–12) while still conveying the gravity of this period of history. "
– Reading for Sanity Book Reviews
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
-
Book Cover Image (jpg): A Time to Hide
Hardcover 9781685556280
-
Author Photo (jpg): Marion Seidemann Fredman
(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
A Time to Hide
Based on a True Story of Survival During the Holocaust
Illustrated by Elisa Kleven and Diane Dove
Published by The Collective Book Studio
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Join our mailing list!
By clicking 'Sign me up' I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the privacy policy and terms of use.
